From the Archives: In October 1996, Pepperdine Basketball Launched Midnight Madness

Pepperdine’s annual tradition, Midnight Madness, now called Blue and Orange Madness, began on October 14, 1996, when a raucous crowd of 3,000 filled Firestone Fieldhouse to celebrate the men’s and women’s basketball teams' first season as NCAA Division 1 teams. The festivities officially began at 8 PM in the Firestone parking lot with a tailgate party that included free burgers from In-N-Out. Shortly after 10 PM—and immediately following the teams’ first official practice of the year—the event moved inside for intrasquad scrimmages guest-coached by Home Alone actor and Malibu resident Daniel Stern and NBC 4 weathercaster Christopher Nance. Hundreds of students lined up, eager to be among the first 1,000 to receive a free T-shirt and witness the unveiling of the new mascot.

During Midnight Madness, the university’s new mascot, King Neptune, was formally introduced, along with the first version of Pepperdine's redesigned sports logo. While there was much hype for this revamp, Neptune didn’t last, and Willie the Wave returned ten years later. You can learn more about the history of the University’s mascots on the Pepperdine Athletics website.

Student slam-dunk and three-point shooting contests and performances by the student musical group "Below Celsius" and the Malibu band "Strain" were highlights of the evening. The most exhilarating tradition was when two Seaver students, Nichol Way and Candance Jones, were selected to attempt a half-court shot to win a full year’s worth of tuition. While neither student made the shot that first year, history was made in 2023 when President Jim Gash sank the half-court shot for one lucky student. 

As Blue and Orange Madness, the event remains true to its original mission: “inspiring coaches, motivating players, and playing in front of such great fans,” as Lorenzo Romar, the coach of the men’s team during the first Midnight Madness, once said. Mark Trakh, the coach of the women’s squad, was also present at the inaugural event.

Tanner Gardner, director of athletics, reflected on the inaugural event in the context of the present: “Across college athletics, events like Midnight Madness have become iconic ways to tip off basketball season and bring a campus together. For us at Pepperdine, Blue and Orange Madness carries that same energy and tradition, but with a uniquely Waves spirit. It's electric, it’s passionate, and it’s the heartbeat of Waves Weekend. Blue and Orange Madness is a true partnership between Athletics and Student Life. The event unites students, alumni, and fans in Firestone Fieldhouse, creating a full-throttle celebration of what it means to wear blue and orange. Blue and Orange Madness is more than a tip-off to basketball; it’s a celebration of our community and a launchpad for everything we hope to accomplish this season.”